Anthropo-zoomorphic face mask · Côte d'Ivoire, Wè-Guéré · ID: 3050046
sold
EUR 1,800
Provenance
Pierre Robin, Paris, France (1996)Size
H: 40 cm
H: 15.7 inch
Description
wood, pigments, metal, shotgun cartridge cases, animal teeth, fabric, base
The mask’s face is framed by about 100 animal teeth, and on its head it wears a “diadem” made of cartridge cases.
Expended ammunition and the fangs of a predator should reinforce the masks power and aggressiveness. Such masks were used for control and are said to have participated in battle in earlier times to admonish the men (cf. AHDRC 0196541).